4. 2nd of March Tuesday

Hermione

Hermione woke up with a headache, the night before had taken its toll and the two glasses of wine had been too much. She proceeded to get out of the bed and went to the kitchen. She was scared out of her mind when her two friends got out of her fireplace.

"Hermione" shouted Ron with a copy of the Quibble in his hand "What does this mean? You went out with Malfoy and let him kiss you? What's going on? And with that dress!"

She glared at him "Ron calm down. If you give me the time to take an hangover potion and a coffee, I'll explain to you and Harry what's going on." Harry smiled and tried to calm Ron down.

"Thank you Harry" he was still smiling but he said "I'm waiting for an explanation as well, Hermione." She drank her potion and then offered to her two best friends a cup of coffee.

When they were all sitting on the sofa she cleared her throat and then started to explain them what she was doing with Malfoy "And so" she concluded "I'm going to get a decent job and he will be free from the clutches of his mother."

"You are totally crazy Hermione" Ron said "I understand that my father gave you that silly advise but I didn't believe that you would be following it." Hermione looked at Harry pleading him with her eyes to support her plan.

Harry took a calming breath "Hermione, I understand that the idea of getting a better job is appealing but to associate with the ferret won't bring anything good and you know it." Ron was nodding strongly approving Harry's words.

At that moment they were interrupted by the arrival of an owl with a letter. Hermione took it and then quickly read it. "It's from the Ministry of Magic. They are offering me an interview for a job." She told her two friends with a smug smile.

Harry spoke again "Hermione, you would have been offered the interview anyway. It's not your relationship with Malfoy that helped you." She looked at him sadly "Harry we both know that it's not true. The fact that I'm muggle-born and that I'm your friend have never helped me but I've never complained about it. Why don't you try to be supportive on this project? I know what I'm doing."

He sighed "Ok, Hermione. I won't tell you anything else about this crazy plan but please promise me that you will be vigilant. A Malfoy is always a Malfoy." Ron then shouted "Harry! You can't be serious! Are you going to sit back and watch that ferret hurt our Hermione?"

Hermione stood up from the sofa and got closer to Ron "Ron I promise you that I will be fine. Please have faith in me. The interview is tomorrow and on Sunday I will see Malfoy for the last time in my life." Ron looked at her "Fine. I will let you try this thing out and if you need any help you know where to find us. But you have to know that I don't approve it."

She smiled and then hugged her two friends. "Thank you guys, I promise that I will keep you informed. Now I need to go to my office and then at lunchtime I'm meeting Mr. Ferret." The two friends nodded and then left her to her own business.

Draco

Draco was awakened by a strong knock on the door of his bedroom. The soft but firm voice of his mother could be heard through the curtains of his four-posted bed "Draco, we need to talk. What are this pictures on the Daily Prophet of you and Hermione Granger?"

He was smirking but when he opened the curtains was wearing a very serious expression "Let me see what they write" he scanned quickly the newspaper and was really satisfied with the tone of the article. He almost burst out laughing when he read the final sentence.

Mr. Malfoy seemed smitten by Miss Granger's charm. It is obvious that they have been dating for quite a while. The young Minister who is as well the heir of a rich family will have to get marry soon and it seems that from the look of it, he has chosen his bride. We will keep you informed on the development of this 'against all odd' relationship.

Draco then looked at his mother who seemed annoyed but not yet angry. "Well, the article is clear mother. I was seen in a restaurant with my new girlfriend. I wanted to date an intelligent and beautiful woman and I believe that I finally found my match."

Narcissa took a deep breath "Draco, she is muggle-born and she works for a newspaper!" On the outside Draco looked very serious but inside he was grinning "Well mother, you expressed the desire of having grandchildren. I told you that I wasn't ready but when you insisted I decided to choose my bride the way I wanted."

She was eyeing him very carefully, she was hoping that this was all a trick to annoy her but he seemed really convinced. On the other hand, he was like her, a Slytherin, and she knew how cunning and deceiving they could be. "I want to meet her then. If you want to marry this woman I first have to approve of her. Bring her here tonight."

"I'm afraid tonight we can't. We have a party at the Ministry but I can bring her here tomorrow night for an informal meal between the three of us. Is that ok with you, mother?" she nodded and after a thoughtful look at him she left his room.

Draco was having an epiphany. His mother has started to fall in the trap, he was sure she would have invited Hermione for a dinner and tomorrow night the two most scary women he has ever met will finally have a confrontation. He couldn't wait for the fun to begin.

He started to get ready to go to work and was surprised when a house-elf brought him a little white envelope.

Hello Malfoy,

I got an offer for an interview at the Ministry. I see that everything is going as planned. Meet you at lunchtime at the 'Hare & Tortoise' pub in Diagon Alley.

Hermione

Draco was surprised, he still didn't contact anyone at the Ministry for her so it wasn't his doing the job offer. He then thought that it was better not to let her know that she got the offer out of her own, otherwise, she could withdraw from the plan and he needed her. He was surprised, as well that she had sent him the note. Could it be that they were becoming friends?

He shuddered, no, probably she just wanted to make sure that he would be at the pub in time. Yesterday, he had almost thought that he could like her but now, after a good sleep, he knew that the idea of liking Hermione Granger was ridiculous.

AN: Thanks for reading.